1 Kings 1:2 kjv
Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.
1 Kings 1:2 nkjv
Therefore his servants said to him, "Let a young woman, a virgin, be sought for our lord the king, and let her stand before the king, and let her care for him; and let her lie in your bosom, that our lord the king may be warm."
1 Kings 1:2 niv
So his attendants said to him, "Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm."
1 Kings 1:2 esv
Therefore his servants said to him, "Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm."
1 Kings 1:2 nlt
So his advisers told him, "Let us find a young virgin to wait on you and look after you, my lord. She will lie in your arms and keep you warm."
1 Kings 1 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 4:1 | "Now Adam knew Eve his wife..." | Illustrates "knowing" as sexual intimacy, absent in 1 Kgs 1:2. |
| 1 Kgs 1:1 | "Now King David was old, advanced in years..." | Provides the immediate context for the need for warmth. |
| 1 Kgs 2:10 | "Then David rested with his fathers and was buried..." | David's impending death and the need for care are signs of his final days. |
| Deut 5:16 | "Honor your father and your mother..." | Reflects the cultural value of caring for elders, albeit here for a king. |
| Lev 19:32 | "You shall rise up before the gray-headed..." | Principle of respect and care for the elderly. |
| Ruth 3:4 | "...lie down at his feet..." | Shows physical closeness in a non-sexual context for a purpose (protection). |
| Esth 2:12-14 | Describes women brought to the king's harem... | Contrast with Abishag's role, highlighting her distinct, non-harem purpose. |
| Psa 71:9 | "Do not cast me off in the time of old age..." | A prayer echoing the anxieties of advanced years, needing sustenance and care. |
| Psa 90:10 | "The days of our life are seventy years..." | References the frailty and limited lifespan of humans, pertinent to David's state. |
| Lam 1:4 | "...virgins are in distress..." | Highlights the value and vulnerability associated with virginity. |
| Jer 31:4 | "Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel." | Emphasizes the symbolic importance and purity of "virgin" status. |
| Deut 22:23-24 | Laws concerning virgins and sexual conduct... | Provides legal-cultural background on virginity and its protection. |
| 1 Cor 7:25 | "Now concerning virgins, I have no command from the Lord..." | New Testament understanding of virginity, often tied to purity and devotion. |
| Luke 10:33-34 | The Good Samaritan binding wounds, pouring oil... | Reflects practical acts of physical care, akin to a nurse's duties. |
| Matt 25:35-36 | "I was naked and you clothed Me..." | Principle of caring for the basic physical needs of others. |
| Job 29:11-16 | Job describing his past care for the needy... | Exemplifies compassionate care for the weak and vulnerable. |
| Isa 46:3-4 | "Even to your old age, I am He...I will carry you..." | God's faithfulness in sustaining and carrying His people, contrasting David's human frailty. |
| Prov 22:29 | "Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings..." | Refers to competent service, implying David's servants' skill in finding solutions. |
| Prov 31:10 | "An excellent wife, who can find?" | Highlights the qualities of an exemplary woman, including caretaking roles. |
| 2 Sam 12:3 | "a little ewe lamb...would lie in his bosom..." | Uses "bosom/lie in arms" metaphorically for tender closeness and protection. |
| Rom 15:1-2 | "We who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength..." | General principle of assisting the weak and elderly, relevant to David's state. |
1 Kings 1 verses
1 Kings 1 2 Meaning
This verse describes the immediate practical solution proposed by King David's servants to his extreme old age and physical feebleness. Unable to maintain body heat, his advisors suggest bringing a young, pure maiden to be a constant companion, attending to him as a nurse and physically sharing his bed (without sexual intimacy) to provide warmth and care, thereby aiding his comfort and well-being in his final days.
1 Kings 1 2 Context
This verse initiates the final chapter in the life of King David and sets the stage for the transition of power. David, now "old, advanced in years" (1 Kgs 1:1), is described as being physically frail and unable to keep warm. This weakness makes him vulnerable and necessitates a drastic, practical measure proposed by his royal advisors. The solution presented by his servants — finding a "young virgin" to serve as a nurse and lie close to him for warmth — underscores the primitive medical understanding of the time and the urgency of the king's physical decline. This scenario immediately introduces Abishag, a character whose unique relationship with the king will, albeit indirectly, play a role in the subsequent struggle for the throne between David's sons, Adonijah and Solomon. The cultural context views virginity as a sign of purity and ensures there would be no claims of David siring another heir in his advanced state, which would complicate the succession further.
1 Kings 1 2 Word analysis
- So his servants said to him,: Indicates collective action and counsel from those closest to the king, responsible for his well-being and the stability of the kingdom. This points to the authority of the royal court.
- 'Let a young virgin be sought':
- young (
na'arah): Implies vigor, health, and a greater capacity to generate and transfer body heat, fitting for the therapeutic purpose. - virgin (
betulah): This term is crucial. It signifies a woman who has not had sexual intercourse. Its inclusion emphasizes purity and prevents any suspicion of impropriety or sexual intent on the king's part or any future claims to the throne via a secret illegitimate heir. It establishes her role as purely a nurse and attendant, not a concubine or wife. - be sought: The verb indicates a deliberate and careful search, emphasizing the importance and specificity of the qualities required for this sensitive position within the royal household.
- young (
- 'for my lord the king,': Standard respectful address for a monarch, reinforcing David's royal status even in his weakened state.
- 'and let her attend (
tasharet) the king': The Hebrewsharethmeans to minister, serve, or attend. It implies continuous, dedicated care beyond simple proximity, like a personal assistant or steward. - 'and be his nurse (
sōkhenet)': The Hebrewsokhenetcan also mean one who is close or fosters, implying intimate care, almost like a medical caregiver or foster mother, beyond just warming. This suggests a comprehensive role in tending to his physical needs. - 'and let her lie in your arms (
bi-kheykha)':- lie (
shakhvah): While this verb can sometimes refer to sexual lying, in this immediate context, coupled with "virgin" and the purpose of warmth, it strictly means to recline or lie beside. The emphasis is on physical proximity. - in your arms (
be-kheykha): Literally "in your bosom" or "lap," signifying intimate physical closeness. It highlights direct skin-to-skin contact for warmth. This close proximity ensures maximum heat transfer.
- lie (
- 'that my lord the king may be warm (
yeḥam lo).': This explicitly states the sole purpose of Abishag's physical presence. It underscores the king's urgent physical need and the lack of ulterior sexual motives.
1 Kings 1 2 Bonus section
- The practice of using a younger individual for warmth, known as "cohabitation for calefaction," was an ancient, desperate measure in the absence of advanced medical techniques to sustain a weakened body temperature.
- Abishag's role, despite its apparent intimacy, strictly avoided any violation of Mosaic Law concerning incest or illicit sexual relations, especially for a king (Deut 17:17 warns against excessive wives). Her status as "virgin" explicitly prevented any such implications.
- Her eventual inclusion in Adonijah's request for her as a wife (1 Kgs 2:13-25) tragically elevated her into a political pawn, leading to his execution because possessing the king's "nurse" was symbolically claiming succession, regardless of the physical intimacy's lack.
1 Kings 1 2 Commentary
1 Kings 1:2 provides a stark picture of King David's physical decline, setting the stage for the narrative of succession. His inability to maintain body warmth reflects the severity of his advanced age, signifying the end of his active reign and his increasing vulnerability. The counsel of his servants, seeking a "young virgin" to be a "nurse" and lie beside him, highlights the practical, even primitive, medical solutions available in that era. The emphasis on her virginity is crucial, explicitly ruling out any sexual relationship, thereby safeguarding the king's integrity, preventing scandalous accusations, and most importantly, avoiding the complications of a potential illegitimate heir. Her role as a nurse and attendant extends beyond mere physical warmth, implying a comprehensive role of personal care for a dying king. This extraordinary measure underscores David's fragility and the immediate existential crisis for the monarchy. It's a somber portrait of a once-mighty warrior-king now reliant on intimate human contact for basic warmth, signaling the approaching end of an era.